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SPARKLING FINISHES * Mark Thursdays Racing at Fox River Valley Course. « Ordinary Program Provides Splendid Entertainment for a Good Mid-Week Crowd. • AURORA. 111.. May 31. — Racing at Exposition Park today waj of the ordinary variety, following- the brilliant holiday entertainment of Memorial Day. The entire program .oday consisted of claiming races. No feature attraction was carded and the platers and less fortunate racers of the meeting had an opportunity to win a purs?. What was lacking in quality in the class of "horses making up todays field was greatly ©ffset by the spirited and closely-fought finishes that marked the decision of a majority of the races. The success of favorites likewise contributed extensively to the enjoyment of the goodly crowd that journeyed to Exposition Park. Ideal weather and a fast track were, in a measure, responsible for the excellent sport. The outstanding incident that occurred was .the victory of Mary-Dale, from the stable of Mrs. A. R. Smith, which won her third successive victory over a distance of ground during the spring meeting at this track. Mary-Dale, continuing to race in her best form, proved victorious over a good field and galloped home in advance of Fair Catch, Raymond Dale and three others, taking the purse in the mile and a sixteenth fifth race. Fair Catch was favorite in this, while Mary-Dale "was next in regard. Mary-Dale, under restraint to the stretch, raced past Raymond Dale and, holding on gamely, held sway to the end. Fair Catch was always close up, "but being bothered slightly in the final drive jby the swerving of Raymond Dale was hard pressed to outstay him for second place. BY SMALL MARGIN. Jockey W. Smith landed his first winner in gome time when, after a thrilling finish, J. O. Denny just got up in time to beat Bill Henry, to score by a neck. Bill Henry beat Lila G. by a half length for second place, ■while Lila G. had but a slight advantage over "Ted Healey. Honeyfish. choice for the second race, at five and a half furlongs, won another purse for J. Hannie and, in doing so. furnished one of the most exciting finishes of the after- ; noon, when he just got up to beat Supporter by a nose in the last stride. Supporter was an easy second. Supporter stayed better than , usual and set a great pace to the end. Nine Dollars showed a good performance and landed in third place. Eleven maiden three-year-olds furnished a good contest in the three-quarters third race and the well-backed Cruelty, racing for J. J. Russell, was a handy winner from Hal Side Guy. with Burk-Dale third. Burk-Dale ruled a strong favorite and raced as if best "when, after a poor beginning and racing far out of it to the stretch, he came with a rush in the stretch and was wearing the leaders down at the end, getting up to outstay Florence Kranz for third place. Hal Side Guy, hard ridden, displayed the most speed, but tired in the last sixteenth. . 11. IRWIN COLORS. Another close finish came with the fourth race, at five-eighths, for two-year-olds, and brought victory for C. B. Irwins Black Darling, that youngster just getting up to down Glad Effort in the final strides. Glad Effort "was in the lead to the last few yards and appeared the winner right near the end, but tired slightly. Fuss saved ground on the inside and came with a rush in the stretch and got up to beat Frank D. for third place. Black Darling scored another victory for the favorites. Nose finishes seemingly being the custom for the day, Pearlies Girlie and Edgewater indulged in another in the sixth race, at a mile and seventy yards, Pearlies Girlie winning by inches from Edgewater. The latter in turn only lasted to take second place by a similar margin from Babbling. Babbling came from the rear in the last eighth and barely missed getting up to beat the first two at the finish. The favorite was unplaced when Fin nstcr disappointed. C Houbre purchased the two-year-old filly ■Mary Frances from J. d Milam at private sale. L reana Lee, Bocaratone, Rip Rap, Jeb and Jennifer have been added to the schooling list by starter Harry Morrissey.
